Yorkshire still hope to have Bresnan

Yorkshire remain hopeful they will have Tim Bresnan available for the Friends Life t20 Finals Day despite the ECB announcement on Wednesday that he would not be freed from England duty.

Finals Day is staged in Cardiff on Saturday the day after England take on South Africa in the opening one-day international at the same ground. Jonny Bairstow has already been confirmed as being available for Yorkshire, while Craig Kieswetter, the Somerset wicketkeeper, is also allowed to play.

"The club understands that Tim's involvement in Finals Day depends on decisions to be made by the England management following the NatWest ODI on Friday," a Yorkshire statement said. "The club remains hopeful that Tim will be able to represent Yorkshire on Finals Day but will also respect any decision made that furthers the chances of the England national side."

When Bresnan was left out of the final Test against South Africa he linked up with Yorkshire for their Championship match against Derbyshire and also played the CB40 against Sussex.

The Friends Life t20 has endured a difficult season, especially during the group stages which were badly affected by the weather, and the appearance of England players would be an added attraction to the day. Matt Prior and Luke Wright will line up for Sussex while Danny Briggs, the left-arm spinner named in the World Twenty20 squad, is part of the Hampshire set up.

The other significant availability news confirmed by the ECB is that Kevin Pietersen can play for Surrey for the remainder of the season but James Anderson will not be free for Lancashire's final Championship match of the summer, against Surrey at Aigburth, where he would have gone head-to-head with Pietersen in what could be a relegation decider.

Anderson was left out of the World Twenty20 squad so will end his international season after the one-day series against South Africa, but the ECB have opted to begin is time off straight away after that.

Elsewhere, Andrew Strauss will see out the season with Middlesex after a short family break following the end of the Test series against South Africa. He will play Championship matches against Worcestershire and Lancashire.